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Gear Up for Tools of the Future!

Though a lot of technology tools and functions -- satellite guidance, yield monitors, smartphone apps -- are already within farmers' reach and being utilized on many farms today, there's an emerging class of innovations making its way onto the farm. Though not yet mainstream, things like wearable computers, unmanned vehicles, and new sensor equipment will all soon be part of your arsenal of tools and equipment to use in your effort to most efficiently raise the best crops you can.

Here's a glimpse at some of those new tools, their implications for your business, and when and how you'll be able to put them to work in your fields soon. Want more information? Join Successful Farming and Agriculture.com at one of the upcoming Tools of the Future Tour stops in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. You can get your hands on some of the latest cutting-edge tech tools, visit with experts, and chat with other farmers and neighbors about how they feel about them. And, if you're looking for a way to snag a few CCA credits, you can do that too!

Each day's event starts at 9:15 AM, with registration beginning at 8:00 AM. Get there early to catch a glimpse of the high-tech tools you'll be checking out at Tools of the Future!

Sometimes we need an extra hand (or two) out on the farm or in the field. Dealing with clients or trying to fix a mechanical issue on the phone takes away yet another limb. In the next few years, this will no longer be an issue.

Once the FAA opens up airspace to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), look out: Industry experts say that could propel the market to $3 billion in size in just the first few years. And, that's just the start.

How do you determine how much water or N to apply to match differing fields? As we move into the future of farming, we need to look for enhanced accuracy. Mike Thurow may have the key to accomplish just that.